Videos
Picture of Book:

Recommended For Grades 6-12



Pictures of the Author:


Summary:
Slam knows everything about basketball. From offense to defense he can do it all. However, Slam's grades aren’t that good. The teachers always tell him about it, but he's always catching attitudes. Slam went to a school called Carver, but his family thought that Latimer was a better school. Slam didn't think so. Slam saw Carver's basketball team way better then Latimers. Slam was in the art club and the basketball team, but his grades were slipping so he has to choose between the two. Hands down, he chose basketball. Latimer's coach believes in teamwork and passing the ball, but Slam is the type of player who wants to show off. Slam's attitude starts kicking in with his coach when the coach thinks he is not good at all. Slam challenged the coach in basketball and Slam won. The coach still did not start Slam which made him angry with the coach. Slam’s anger problem with his teachers starts when they recommend a tutor for him. Slam thinks he does not need a tutor. Slam’s mother thought he needed a teacher, so Slam started getting angry with his mother and told her that the house did not need any more men in it. Everyone knew that Slam hand and anger problem and needed to fix it.
By: Terrence Evans

Author Biography: Walter Dean Myers is a black african american male. He was born in West, Virginia on August 12th 1937. His life centered around his neighboorhood and a church. He was a very smart kid but he did not do well in school, he was a highschool dropout. After, droping out of school he joined the army at the age of 17. He wrote this book because basketball was his passion and sometimes he dreamed of playing in the NBA or college basketball. His highschool teacher knew that he was gonna be a dropout so she advised him to keep writing.

By: Adam Blazio




Test Questions:

Part 1: Multiple Choice

1. Who is Slam?

1. A black boy that lives in a bad neighborhood and goes to a new school.
2. A black boy that hates basketball.
3. A white boy that gets all the girls.
4. A white boy who hates his family because they are black.

1. What does Slam’s mother talk to him about in his room?

1. Being bad
2. Treating his brother badly
3. Having bad grades and his principal says he might have to go back to carver.
4. About the drive bys in his neighborhood.

1. What does Slam do when the coach tells him to play center?

1. Goes play
2. Says No, I play guard
3. Says I am just watching
4. Says but I play forward

1. Who is Mtisha?

1. This girl from the corner
2. Ice’s girlfriend
3. A girl that Slam like and is close to
4. A crack head

1. Why are Mtisha and Slam worried about Ice?

1. He got shot
2. He’s starting to hang with the wrong people
3. He’s on drugs
4. He’s in jail

1. Slam pushed out of the way while trying to fight a teacher. Who did he push out of the way?

1. Karen
2. Gina
3. Mtisha
4. Ice

1. Latimer lost to _. Who did they lose to?

1. Carver
2. Trinity
3. Easton
4. St. Aug

1. The coach called a play for Jimmy to post on Slam. Does he succeed?

1. Yes
2. No

Part 2: Who is Speaking?

1. _ “How come you ain’t playing?”
2. _ “What’s that guy’s name?”
3. _ “Yo, man, why don’t you shut up!?”
4. _ “How about giving up one of them?”
5. _ “You can’t even tell him that you bringing another dude to take his place?”
6. _ “Yo, Slam, what’s happening!?”
7. _ “That statue’s white!”
8. _ “I can’t even get a night kiss?”
9. _ “That’s the way to work, Slam!
10. _ “Yeah, I am mixed.”

Part 3: Short Answer.

1. Why was Ice going down to One-Two-Five Street?

_

1. Why is Slam mad at the coach?

Part 4: True/False.

21. At the end, Ice kills Slam.
22. Carver stomped Latimer in basketball.
23. Slam’s real name is Joseph “Slam” Johnson.
24. Slam gets tutored by Mtisha.
25. Nick scored the last shot against Carver.

Presentation Poster

Original drawing by Adam B.